Apparatus for supplying oxyhydrogen gas

ABSTRACT

An apparatus that can supply oxyhydrogen gas includes an electrolysis device, a filter device, and a control device. The electrolysis device includes a voltage controller that applies voltages to positive and negative electrode plates to convert water electrolytically in an electrolysis chamber to form oxyhydrogen gas, which is outputted via a first output conduit. An output end of the first output conduit is extended below water level in a container of the filter device. A second output conduit permits the oxyhydrogen gas that flows through the first output conduit and through the water in the container to flow therethrough. The control device includes a ratio adjusting interface for controlling a difference in the voltages provided by the voltage controller so as to adjust a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in the oxyhydrogen gas formed in the electrolysis chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 101104709, filed on Feb. 14, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying oxyhydrogen gas for health and medical care applications. 2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, R.O.C. patent publication M199113 discloses an apparatus for generating oxygen for medical and health care applications. During use, water, sodium percarbonate and a catalyst are added into a reaction chamber 111 to generate oxygen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supplying oxyhydrogen gas.

According to the present invention, an apparatus is capable of supplying oxyhydrogen gas, and comprises:

an electrolysis device including an electrolysis chamber for containing water, at least one positive electrode plate disposed in the electrolysis chamber, at least one negative electrode plate disposed in the electrolysis chamber, a voltage controller coupled electrically to the positive and negative electrode plates and a first output conduit in fluid communication with the electrolysis chamber, the voltage controller being operable to apply voltages to the positive and negative electrode plates so as to enable the positive and negative electrode to electrolytically convert the water in the electrolysis chamber to form oxyhydrogen gas that is outputted via the first output conduit, the first output conduit having an output end opposite to the electrolysis chamber;

a filter device including a container for containing water, the output end of the first output conduit being extended into the container so as to be disposed below a water level of the water contained by the container, and a second output conduit in fluid communication with the container and permitting the oxyhydrogen gas that flows through the first output conduit and through the water contained by the container to flow therethrough; and

a control device including a ratio adjusting interface coupled electrically to the voltage controller and operable to control a difference in the voltages provided by the voltage controller to the positive and negative electrode plates so as to adjust a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in the oxyhydrogen gas formed in the electrolysis chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional apparatus for producing oxygen disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 119113;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus for supplying oxyhydrogen gas of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of an apparatus for supplying oxyhydrogen gas according to the present invention is shown to comprise a casing 2, an electrolysis device 3, and a filter device 4 disposed in the casing 2, and a control device 5.

The electrolysis device 3 includes an electrolysis chamber 31 for containing water, a plurality of positive electrode plate 32 that are spaced apart from each other and that are disposed in the electrolysis chamber 31, a plurality of negative electrode plate 33 that are spaced apart from each other and that are disposed in the electrolysis chamber 31, a voltage controller 34 coupled electrically to the positive and negative electrode plates 32, 33, a first output conduit 35 in fluid communication with the electrolysis chamber 31 to output oxyhydrogen gas, and a first water replenishing module 36 in fluid communication with the electrolysis chamber 31. The positive electrode plates 32 are connected in parallel with each other and are coupled electrically to the voltage controller 34, and the negative electrode plates 33 are connected in parallel with each other and are coupled electrically to the voltage controller 34. The voltage controller 34 is operable to apply voltages to the positive and negative electrode plates 32, 33, respectively, so as to enable the positive and negative electrodes 32, 33 to electrolytically convert the water in the electrolysis chamber 31 to form oxygen around the positive electrode plates 32 and to form hydrogen around the negative electrode plates 33. The oxygen and the hydrogen thus formed are outputted via the first output conduit 35. The first output conduit 35 has an output end 351 opposite to the electrolysis chamber 31. The first water replenishing module 36 includes a first water pipe 361 that is in fluid communication with the electrolysis chamber 31 and that has a first opening 3611 accessible from an exterior of the casing 2 for introducing water into the electrolysis chamber 31, and a first cap 362 for closing the first opening 3611. Accordingly, water in the electrolysis chamber 31 is replenished through the first water replenishing module 36.

The filter device 4 includes a container 41 that is for containing water and that is in fluid communication with the first output conduit 35, a second output conduit 42 in fluid communication with the container 41 and with the exterior of the casing 2 to output the oxyhydrogen gas in the container 41, a second water replenishing module 43 in fluid communication with the container 41, and a filter screen 44 that is disposed in the first output conduit 35 for filtering the oxyhydrogen gas. The output end 351 of the first output conduit 35 is extended into the container 41 so as to be disposed below a water level of the water contained by the container 41.

The second water replenishing module 43 includes a second water pipe 431 that is in fluid communication with the container 41 and that has a second opening 4311 accessible from an exterior of the casing 2 for introducing water into the container 41, and a second cap 432 for closing the second opening 4311. Accordingly, water in the container 41 is replenished through the second water replenishing module 43.

The control device 5 includes a ratio adjusting interface 50 for adjusting the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in oxyhydrogen gas, a flow detector 52 for detecting flow of the oxyhydrogen gas through the second output conduit 42, a flow regulating interface 53 operable to regulate the flow of the oxyhydrogen gas through the second output conduit 42, a first level detector 55 for detecting water level in the electrolysis chamber 31, a second level detector 56 for detecting water level in the container 41, an alarm unit 57 coupled electrically to the first level detector 55 and the second level detector 56, a power controller 58 coupled electrically to the first level detector 55 and the second level detector 56, and a flowmeter 59 disposed at the first output conduit 35.

The ratio adjusting interface 50, the flow detector 52, the flow regulating interface 53 and the alarm unit 57 are accessible from an exterior of the casing 2, to facilitate user monitoring and operation.

The ratio adjusting interface 50 is coupled electrically to the voltage controller 34, and is operable to control a difference in the voltages provided by the voltage controller 34 to the positive and negative electrode plates 32, 33 so as to adjust a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in the oxyhydrogen gas formed in the electrolysis chamber 51. The flow regulating interface 53 is coupled electrically to the voltage controller 34 and is operable to adjust the voltage magnitudes of the positive and negative electrode plates 32, 33 to regulate the flow of the oxyhydrogen gas through the second output conduit 42.

Further, the alarm unit 57, such as a lamp, generates an indication when the water level detected by the first level detector 55 is below a predetermined level, or when the water level in the container 41 detected by the second level detector 56 is below the output end 351, and the power controller 58 shuts down the electrolysis device 3 at the same time. By this virtue, the user is reminded to add water to the electrolysis chamber 31 or the container 41 to prevent the electrolysis device 3 from overheating due to running without water. The output of oxyhydrogen gas that is not filtered by the water in the container 41 is also prevented. Further, the flowmeter 59 allows reading of the amount of oxyhydrogen gas flowing through the first output conduit 35, and such reading is useful for the maintenance of the apparatus.

During use, adequate amounts of water are added into the electrolysis chamber 31 and the container 41 through the first opening 3611 and the second opening 4311, respectively. After the electrolysis device 3 is activated, oxygen and hydrogen are produced around the positive electrode plates 32 and the negative electrode plates 33, respectively. The produced oxyhydrogen gas flows into the container 41 through the first output conduit 35 to form gas bubbles, which can be further purified in the water in the container 44. The oxyhydrogen gas that is released from the water in the container 41 is outputted through the second output conduit 42 for human breathing.

The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in the produced oxyhydrogen gas is affected by the voltage difference between the positive and negative electrode plates 32, 33. For instance, when the voltages applied to the positive and negative electrode plates 32 and 33 are the same, the ratio of the produced hydrogen to oxygen is 2:1. Therefore, the user can operate the ratio adjusting interface 50 for oxyhydrogen gas of different ratios. Commonly, the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is 66:34 or 8:2 for medical or health care applications. The user can monitor with the flow detector 52 the flow of oxyhydrogen gas released from the casing 2, and the user can operate the flow regulating interface 53 to adjust the magnitude of the flow.

In summary, the apparatus of the present invention includes a ratio adjusting interface 50 that can be operated by the user to adjust the voltage differences of the positive and negative electrode plates 32, 33, such that the ratio of the hydrogen to oxygen produced by the electrolysis device 3 is controlled by the user to suit personal needs. By passing the oxyhydrogen gas produced from the electrolysis chamber 31 through the water in the container 41, the oxyhydrogen gas is purified to ensure the purity of the oxyhydrogen gas breathed in by the user.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for supplying oxyhydrogen gas, comprising: an electrolysis device including an electrolysis chamber for containing water, at least one positive electrode plate disposed in said electrolysis chamber, at least one negative electrode plate disposed in said electrolysis chamber, a voltage controller coupled electrically to said positive and negative electrode plates and a first output conduit in fluid communication with said electrolysis chamber, said voltage controller being operable to apply voltages to said positive and negative electrode plates so as to enable said positive and negative electrode to electrolytically convert the water in said electrolysis chamber to form oxyhydrogen gas that is outputted via said first output conduit, said first output conduit having an output end opposite to said electrolysis chamber; a filter device including a container for containing water, said output end of said first output conduit being extended into said container so as to be disposed below a water level of the water contained by said container, and a second output conduit in fluid communication with said container and permitting the oxyhydrogen gas that flows through said first output conduit and through the water contained by said container to flow therethrough; and a control device including a ratio adjusting interface coupled electrically to said voltage controller, and operable to control a difference in the voltages provided by said voltage controller to said positive and negative electrode plates so as to adjust a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in the oxyhydrogen gas formed in said electrolysis chamber.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrolysis device includes a plurality of said positive electrode plates that are spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of said negative electrode plates that are spaced apart from each other.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrolysis device further includes a first water replenishing module for replenishing the water in said electrolysis chamber, and a second water replenishing module for replenishing the water in said container.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter device further includes a filter screen for filtering the oxyhydrogen gas flowing through said first output conduit.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device further includes a flow detector for detecting flow of the oxyhydrogen gas through said second output conduit, and a flow regulating interface coupled electrically to said voltage controller and operable to regulate the flow of the oxyhydrogen gas through said second output conduit.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device further includes: a first level detector for detecting water level in said electrolysis chamber; a second level detector for detecting water level in said container; and an alarm unit for generating an indication when the water level detected by said first level detector is below a predetermined level, or when the water level detected by said second level detector is below said output end of said first output conduit.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said alarm unit includes a lamp.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control device further includes a power controller coupled to said first level detector and said second level detector and operable to shut down said electrolysis device when the water level detected by said first level detector is below the predetermined level, or when the water level detected by said second level detector is below said output end of said first output conduit.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device further includes a flowmeter disposed at said first output conduit.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing, said electrolysis device and said filter device being disposed in said casing.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electrolysis device further includes a first water replenishing module for replenishing the water in said electrolysis chamber, and a second water replenishing module for replenishing the water in said container.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said first water replenishing module includes a first water pipe that is in fluid communication with said electrolysis chamber and that has a first opening accessible from an exterior of said casing, and a first cap for closing said first opening; and said second water replenishing module includes a second water pipe that is in fluid communication with said container and that has a second opening accessible from an exterior of said casing, and a second cap for closing said second opening. 